Trade union delegation to the 55th UN CSW's blog

The voice of women workers at the UN

 
With thanks to the Public Service Alliance of Canada for our great bandanas!

Welcome to this special blog for trade union women.  Union women from around the world gathered in New York for the United Nations’ 55^th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (UN CSW55), 22^nd February - 4 March, 2011.

The theme for this session is: Access and participation of women and girls to education, training, science and technology, including for the promotion of women’s equal access to full employment and decent work

The global trade union movement is represented here by Education International, Public Services International, UNI Global Union, and the International Trade Union Confederation.

Please join the discussion through this blog. Share your experiences as a working woman. Contribute your views on the successes achieved and challenges remaining to achieve true gender equality for women and girls, particularly in the fields of education and decent work. Check back often for updates on all the latest actions!

Presentations UNCSW side event ""Challenges to Women's Access to Decent Work: Increasing Informality and Growing Economic Insecurity"

Here you find the Power point presentations from the CSW55 Side Event on Thursday 3 March entitled "Challenges to Women's Access to Decent Work: Increasing Informality and Growing Economic Insecurity":

• Women’s Access to Decent Work in the Age of Vulnerability, by Maria Floro (American University, Washington DC and International Association for Feminist Economics)
• Is Informality a Cushion? Global Recession and the Informal Economy, by Marty Chen (WIEGO Network, Harvard Kennedy School)

This event was organized by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) in cooperation with the International Association for Feminist Economics (IAFFE).

One of the trade union delegates, Brigitta Paas of the ITF, was a speaker in this event.

Report of the ILO-UNESCO side event: "Quality Education for Girls Leads to Decent Work for Women"

Jan Eastman, Deputy General Secretary of Education International, was a panelist at the ILO-UNESCO side event during the UNCSW 55 titled "Quality Education for Girls Leads to Decent Work for Women", together with Ms. Jane Hodges, Director of the Bureau for Gender Equality of the ILO; Ms. Gulsar Corat, Director of the Gender Equality Division of UNESCO; and Ms. Elizabeth Broderick, Sex Discrimination Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission.

 

 

Download the report of the ILO-UNESCO side event

From the report:

capable teachers at all levels and in all fields of education. Recent cuts operated by governments as a consequence of the economic and financial crisis is affecting education both in terms of quality of services provided (e.g. class sizes, toilets sanitary and other facilities) to students and in terms of human resources (cuts in the number of teachers, employing non-qualified teachers).

"Ms. Jan. Eastman affirmed that being in school does not necessarily guarantee a solid learning process. This can only be ensured by the presence of good, well trained and

If the school can ensure a high-quality level of education, be free, provide a safe environment and provide free meals to students, poor families might have more incentive to send both boys and girls to school and not have them work to provide an income. This is particularly important in developing countries, where girls, through appropriate education, have the opportunity to access different sectors of employment instead of being “trapped” into domestic work, child labour or in the entertainment show business that in most cases results into prostitution. And good teachers who have been sensitized to gender issues can be the living examples (role models) of where good education can lead to.

Even if achieving good education does not guarantee access to decent work, it is for sure a good starting point. Participating in quality education and training at all levels is a right of all women and democratic societies have to ensure the attainment of this right. The Education International Declaration on Schools as Safe Sanctuaries reaffirms this principle and calls for joint efforts to ensure protection of teachers and students at school (particularly women and girls), and end impunity for attacks on students, education personnel, and education facilities. Governments have to invest in education and political commitment to fight discrimination and gender inequality. Some progress has been made but it is not yet enough."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decisions for Life campaign

Teaming up to make the difference for young working women around the world!   For more information, please visit http://www.ituc-csi.org/decisions-for-life.html.

Good Practices on Legal and Social Protection for Domestic Workers: The Role of Education and Training

This roundtable discussion was moderated by Dr. Jean D’Cunha, Global Migration Adviser of UN Women. On the panel:

• Ms Emmeline Verzosa, Executive Director, Philippine Commission on Women reported on the huge advances made in the Philippines under the Magna Carta for Domestic Workers. Read more 
• Mr Raphael Crowe, Senior Gender Specialist, ILO reported on the ILO "Blue" report, a revised proposed Convention and Recommendation on Decent Work for Domestic Workers. This report, which can be read here, will serve as the basis for the discussion at the 2011 ILO Conference.
• Ms Nisha Varia, Senior Researcher, Human Rights Watch highlighted the many concerns that domestic workers face (restrictions, isolation, wages and working hours, exploitation, violence etc).
• Ms Barbara Young, Board Co-chair and domestic worker, Domestic Workers United (Part of the US National Domestic Worker’s Alliance): On August 31, 2010, just in time for Labor Day, New York Governor David Paterson signed into law the “Domestic Workers Bill of Rights” (“Bill of Rights”), which grants certain employment protections to household domestic workers. Read more

“Although domestic workers provide crucial care services that make all other work possible, their labour too often is not seen as real work meriting legal protections. This view has resulted in 100 million women and girls left unprotected by national labour law in nearly half the world’s countries. Until recently, domestic workers were excluded even from international labour laws, which is symbolic of the slow evolution of social perceptions of women’s work generally and of domestic work in particular.”
 
At this roundtable there was frequent mention of the important role of unions; the need for coalition work; and the resources that need to be developed to support these marginalized workers. There was optimism for the laborious work currently being undertaken by the ILO.

Further reading and information:

• Reversing a History of Exclusion through International Labour Law

• ILO Report IV(1): Decent work for domestic workers

• Empowering women migrant workers to claim their rights and celebrate their contribution

 

• UN Women's Plan to Support Migrant Workers (YouTube):

Reporter: Cindi Foreman, CUPW-STTP (UNI)

Social Justice Lens as a tool for Social Justice work

In our Social Justice program at the BCTF, we use the Social Justice Lens to assess whether something is socially just or not. We have to measure whether  there is enough ACCESS,  AGENCY, ADVOCACY, and Solidarity ACTION to take on the project. Given our limited ACCESS into the UN main sessions I thought I would send this to our delegation. These two pages describe how the lens works. I have a 12 page booklet (Download SJ Lens Booklet 2 pgs PSI10-0124) that teachers and unions can use.

If anyone would like the whole booklet, they can email me for a hardcopy or an online version. 

Let me know which one and I will send it along.  jmerrifield@bctf.ca

Joan Merrifield, British Columbia Teachers' Federation

Taking Action on Political Violence against Women (Feb 25th)

This panel discussion was organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the United Nations Development Fund. MS Margaret Mensah-Williams, VP of the National Council of Namibia was the moderator and introduced the session by saying that violence impedes women’s political participation in many countries and went on to define political violence as utilizing violence to meet a political objective and further that it is any act or threat, coercion, intimidation or physical harm during the electoral process, through culture, religion or patriarchy. She pointed out that electoral democracy, which was thought to bring freedom to many countries, comes at a high price for women, is not well documented, is under reported and has had little global response.

The panellists (from South Africa, SE Europe, Zimbabwe) and gave examples of violence pre-election, on polling days and after the elections. Fear is created to the point that it prevents women from registering as voters and running as candidates, and prevents the community for supporting women candidates.  Pre-election women candidates often experience verbal harassment, insults (How can a women lead?), attacks in the media, threats to safety, physical harm, kidnapping and assassinations. Supporters of women candidates can face threats, intimidation, physical violence and rape. On polling days, intimidation keeps voters away, and there are often threats from husbands, chiefs and tribal elders. The placement of ballot boxes is critical and is often in locations that can be monitored by elders. Women are often sent to revote for their husband’s choice of candidate. After the elections the results are often contested, violence breaks out, and media ridicule is intensified. In the Balkins, hate speeches and rape are used systemically to scare the women candidates. As well, bombing of the legislature is common when women attend.

Challenges raised were: conservative backlash, misogyny, extreme religious leaders, laws in place but not enforced, women’s lack of personal identity (discussed through her relationships -wife, mother) and media ridicule and discrimination (reporting context-her dress and appearance) and not reporting on their positions on content or issues such as budgets, etc.

Strategies suggested were that:

-develop ways to documentation of women’s experiences, track violence during elections and create global indicators

-train police and other institutional members to provide security pre, during and after elections

-Within parliaments ensure codes of conduct, and hold political parties accountable for the behaviour of their people, through Dispute Resolution Committees

-Legislation such as CEDAW, 1325 domestic laws need to be enforced

-Health care needs to be in place to facilitate disclosure, and help women who experience rape

-Development of a media monitoring kit, who is watching the media? How are they being challenged?

-Development of mentoring systems and training systems, so women learn how to run for office and gain experience (say at the local government level) and understand the realities they face

-Develop quotas-that ensure gender equity, fund women equally to run

-Connect with parallel electoral campaigns in other countries, maintain regional connections and develop strong advocates with global NGO’s

One of the strongest and most effective strategies the women have used is to form women’s caucuses or coalitions that are across party lines. They meet separately and strategically plan how to vote on issues around code of conduct in the legislature, develop and pass domestic violence bills, plan how to mentor young women and generally create space for women to speak in the government. They must vote in solidarity on these issues and not by party lines. Through this partnership with one another they have found some changes have occurred. There is much to be done before women will be safe and supported in politics.

Reporter:: Joan Merrifield, British Columbia Teachers' Federation

 

PSI on International Women's Day: Defending and advancing public services for equality and peace

Read this statement in French - Spanish - Czech - Swedish - German - Japanese - Russian

Public services – which provide a vital foundation for women’s empowerment and gender equality, and build peaceful, just and sustainable societies – are being cut, privatised and outsourced. Across Europe and North America austerity measures are being introduced under the excuse of reducing budget deficits.

Kuini Lutua, chair of PSI’s World Women’s Committee emphasizes that, “Investment in quality public services is an investment in present and future generations of women, girls and the entire human race. It is an investment in development. It is an investment in democracy. It is in an investment in justice and ultimately an investment for peace.”

“Women are amongst the hardest hit by the cuts to public services,” she says. “It is women who hold more precarious jobs; women who assume a major part of family and social responsibilities; women who live with lower wages or in situations of extreme poverty.”

Lutua notes that there is widespread “anger that women are being made to pay for the policy failures of governments across the world. Anger that ordinary citizens are paying the price for bankers’ greed.  Anger at the lack of decent jobs, especially for young people. Anger that hard won victories on gender equality are fast being eroded.”

PSI general secretary Peter Waldorff adds: “Across North Africa and the Middle East, it is the failure of governments to invest in their people, in quality public services, to create decent jobs, to promote equality of opportunity for all, that has led to the growing wave of uprisings. Actions in which women and men, young and old, are standing steadfast in the name of change. Governments across the world must pay attention to these urgent calls for change. The time to invest in people, in quality public services, in equality, is now.”

One hundred years after it was first celebrated, March 8 is now an important date on the global calendar. Thousands of events are held annually throughout the world to celebrate the many achievements and victories of women over the years.

“March 8, 2011 is an opportunity to continue our efforts, our movement, to achieve our demands,” says Lutua.

PSI members in New York for this year’s United Nations Commission on the Status of Women also welcome the message of Michelle Bachelet, head of the new UN agency for gender equality and women’s empowerment who says firmly that “Gender equality must become a lived reality.”

This year’s International Women’s Day celebrations by Public Services International members are marked by a wide-reaching sense of determination to make swift changes that better the world for women and their families. From Cairo, Egypt to Wisconsin, USA, women and men are on the move, demanding respect for basic rights and freedoms: the right to freedom of expression, the right to join a union, the right to collective bargaining, the right to live in dignity.

Nadine Molloy addresses UNCSW 55

 
NADINE MOLLOY, speaking on behalf of Education International, the International Trade Union Confederation and Public Services International, said investment in key public services was a key driver of development and gender equality. Trade unions had grave concerns with current reductions to budgets that supported public services. To achieve the Millennium Development Goals and to ensure education for all, investments in the public sector must be increased, not decreased. Achieving equality in primary and secondary education and ensuring universal access were critical to overcoming development challenges and structural discrimination. Gender-sensitive activities must improve on three axes: curriculum; the learning and physical environment; and the quantity and quality of teachers.
 
She said that the normative framework necessary to support core policies already existed in the Beijing Platform for Action and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, as well as key International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions. Those could serve to overcome the full range of development challenges and gender equalities that impeded the smooth transition from the classroom to the career path and a decent workplace. However, those instruments must be systematically applied. Adequately funded strategic action was also urgently needed.

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/EGUA-8ELUNR/$File/full_report.pdf

Photos de la 55e session

Voici des photos  prises lors de la 55^e session CCFNU à New York, du 18 au 26 février 2011.

Crédits photos : Sylvie Lépine, Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec

EI on 8 March: greater investments in girls’ education and decent work for women

8 March: EI celebrates International Women' Day

read the statement in French or Spanish

Women around the world continue to face systemic discrimination and inequality in education opportunities and access to decent work.

On International Women’s Day, educators worldwide are demanding greater investments in girls’ education and training opportunities leading to full employment and decent work for women.

The year 2011 marks the centenary of International Women’s Day celebrations. Since 1911, this day has been a global event, celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women in the past, present and future, and mobilising to address the challenges. Around the globe, EI member unions organise rallies, marches, fairs and debates, and reflect on the progress made to advance women’s equality, assess the challenges facing girls and women, look at ways to improve the quality of life and to actualize rights, and to empower girls and women in all spheres of human endeavour.

A strong delegation of trade unionists participated in the 55th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women in February 2011. For the first time, gender, education and decent work were included together as priority themes in the UN CSW working agenda.

EI President Susan Hopgood said: “We know that investment in all quality public services is a key driver of development. As such, trade unions have serious concerns with the reduction to budgets that support public services which governments have undertaken in response to the current economic crisis. If Millennium Development (MDG) and Education for All (EFA) goals are to be achieved, the investment in the public sector should be increased, not decreased.”

EI Deputy General Secretary, Jan Eastman, added: “Strategies to improve access to education have been put in place in many countries. These have resulted in increased enrolment numbers for girls, and progress towards gender parity in primary school completion. High drop-out rates are still prevalent, however, and they are higher for girls in a number of developing countries, especially in secondary education, which is key for empowering girls. Drop-out rates are clearly associated with poverty, and also the related phenomenon of child labour. Girls face additional challenges because of the HIV epidemic, work in the home, and also of vulnerable, at risk employment in the entertainment industry or as domestic workers. When education is of sufficient quality, when girls are safe, fed, and pay no fees, parents will send them to school, not to work. Gender inclusive policies aimed at achieving quality primary and secondary education and ensuring universal access are the key to overcoming these development challenges and structural discriminations.”

At EI’s First World Women’s Conference in January 2011 – On the Move for Equality, nearly 400 teacher trade unionists from all corners of the world came together to discuss strategies for advancing and empowering women and girls in today’s world. “Our energies are focused on improving girls’ access to education, eliminating gender stereotypes in education, and fighting for decent work and good working conditions, including pay equity, for women. We are united to make our voice heard – the voice of teachers worldwide for equality and human rights,” said Eastman.